FAQ's about ceremonies in City Hall
When are the ceremony rooms available?
You can find out when the rooms are available, what facilities each room has and the price on our Ceremony pages. If you want to find out when the next timeslot is available, please go to our Enquire about a date page.
What is the difference between a marriage and a civil partnership?
If you opt for a marriage, you will be required to exchange statutory vows as part of a brief ceremony. If you opt for a civil partnership, vows are not required, and you will just be asked to sign the paperwork, these are legal stipulations.
Please note for a marriage or civil partnership in the Register Office, you will be required to complete the legal requirement to Give Notice of intention at the latest 29 days before the registration (71 days, if either of you is a non-EEA national). You can find more information on our Give Notice page
Do I need a rehearsal?
No, you do not have a rehearsal before a civil ceremony. You will receive a 'Ceremony Pack' to complete in advance of your ceremony to make your bespoke choices.
Is parking available at City Hall?
There is no allocated parking at City Hall for guests, however one car per wedding is allowed to park at the rear of the building for 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after the ceremony. The vehicle registration number must have been passed onto Registration staff at least 24 hours prior to the ceremony and they will advise where the space is located. There is also a loading bay at the rear of City Hall on Plater Way. This cannot be used for parking, however it can be used as a drop off or pick-up point.
The nearest Metro station is Sunderland and there are plenty of public car parks in and around the city centre. Payment of the daily or hourly rate can be made with cash at the machines or you can pay in most locations using the RingGo cashless parking facility. Details of the RingGo system is available on posters at each location.
You can find more transport information about how to get to City Hall here.
Do I need to bring anything on the day of my ceremony?
No, you do not need to bring anything with you as you've already shown your ID when you gave notice. In the very rare circumstance that you've legally changed your name between giving notice and the day of the ceremony, bring your change of name deed document.
What time should I arrive at City Hall?
Register Office and Keel Room ceremonies
We ask that you and your guests arrive 15 minutes before the start of the ceremony so we can ensure that it starts on time. Please make your way to the Register Office Reception on the 1st floor.
Riverside Room and Mayors Parlour ceremonies
We ask that you and your guests arrive 30 minutes before the start of the ceremony so we can ensure that it starts on time. Please gather in the City Hall Foyer and a member of the Registration Team will meet you and escort you and your party to the ceremony suites on the 1st floor.
If a bride or groom does not wish to be seen until the ceremony by their guests, please ensure you have notified our team prior to the ceremony day via your Ceremony Pack.
Can I arrive late for my City Hall ceremony?
No, the ceremony needs to start on time so later ceremonies are not inconvenienced. All ceremonies are subject to our terms and conditions which covers our Lateness policy.
How long will my City Hall ceremony last?
Your ceremony is usually completed up to 30 minutes after the start time.
Why do I need to be interviewed before the ceremony?
The registrar is legally required to interview you both before the ceremony. They are checking that all your details are correct before they are entered into the register, and that you are still free and willing to go ahead with the marriage or civil partnership. They will also run through the personalised choices that you've made for your ceremony so that everything is clear before it starts. You'll find that this personal time with your registrar before the ceremony will be a welcome period of calm on your wedding day.
Who can be my witnesses?
When you get married or form a civil partnership, you must have 2 witnesses to sign the marriage/civil partnership schedule. Anyone can be witnesses, as long as they understand what they are witnessing. We therefore recommend that they understand English and are of an age to understand the meaning of a marriage or civil partnership ceremony. They do not need to bring ID with them.
Can we include a reading as part of our ceremony?
Absolutely. All ceremonies taking place at our approved venues and in the Mayors Parlour are able to include a reading from a friend or family member as part of the ceremony. For ideas here are some of our favourite sample readings.
Remember to include the name of the reading you have chosen when you return your ceremony pack to us.
Can we live stream our wedding/civil partnership?
Yes, you are free to set this up before your ceremony using your own device.
Live streaming and recording allows your friends and family to watch from anywhere on their computer, smartphone or tablet.
Can photographs be taken in City Hall?
Yes, photography is allowed during the ceremony but must be kept to a subtle level.
Can we take food and drink into the ceremony rooms?
No, food and drink is not allowed in the ceremony rooms at City Hall.
Why is my maiden name on my marriage certificate now that I am married or in a Civil Partnership?
There is no legal requirement in the UK to change your surname after marriage; it is merely a tradition. Your certificate will show the surname in which you contracted your marriage or civil partnership; it does not indicate the surname that you intend to use after marriage/civil partnership.
If there is something wrong on my marriage/civil partnership certificate, how can I correct it?
In your pre-ceremony interview, the registrar will ask you to check that all your details are correct on the schedule, and at the end of the ceremony, they will ask you to check once more. It's important to check that the details are correct before you sign.
If anything is incorrect, it can be easily changed before you've signed. If you spot something that's wrong after you've signed, there is a legal procedure to apply for a correction via the General Register Office. There is a statutory fee of £90 for applications for corrections to marriage or civil partnership registrations, which doesn't include the cost of new certificates.
Can I change my surname on my passport before my marriage or civil partnership?
You can apply for a passport in your new name up to 3 months before your marriage or civil partnership ceremony. Please click here to complete the PD2 form.
The completed PD2 form then needs to be signed by the registrar. Please email registrars@sunderland.gov.uk to arrange an appointment. There is a £10 fee for this service..
Can you notarise or legalise my certificates?
All certificates issued to you are original certificates, stating "certified copy of an entry" at the top. This means that they are an official and original copy of the entry in the marriage or civil partnership register, which will always be held with us.
Should you require your certificates to be notarised or legalised, such as for foreign governments' administrative processes, you can do with this with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Legalisation Department, full details are available on the GOV.UK website Get your document legalised page.
Please note that UK marriage and civil partnership certificates meet the EU's required format.
How can I pay my balance?
When you are ready to pay your balance, please email us at registrars@sunderland.gov.uk and we will call you and take payment over the telephone.
Payments for Riverside Room, Mayor's Parlour and the Keel Room must be made in full no later than 6 weeks prior to your ceremony. If your ceremony is within that timescale when making the booking, your balance will be required straight away.
Register Office wedding fees are taken at the notice appointment.
Does my booking deposit get deducted from my balance?
No, this is a separate payment to secure the date and time of your ceremony. This fee only applies to Riverside Room, Mayor's Parlour and Keel Room ceremonies.
Is there disabled access?
Yes, there is disabled access into the City Hall Foyer. There are also lifts available onto the 1st floor. The Reception Team based in the City Hall Foyer can support with access to the lifts.
Are there any public toilet facilities?
Yes, there are public toilets available in the City Hall Foyer and on the 1st floor where the ceremony rooms are located.
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